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Criptural Commentary through faith: "The Priests in Christendom warn their flocks not to believe in Mormonism; and yet you sisters have power to heal the sick, by the laying on of hands, which they cannot do." (Millenial Star, XV:130.) criptural Commentary In the early history of the Church it was common for Relief Society sisters to visit and administer relief to their kindred sisters, not through the priesthood but by virtue of their Priesthood callings and faith. Steven F. Christensen not in me, how can it pass through to the patient? And how do we get it in us? We Another saying which some sisters In this issue of commentary we will live worthy of it, and the Lord is anxious may enjoy placing next to their other discuss some interesting items to see that we have it. Brigham Young "refrigerator slogans" is: "We have pertaining to priesthood. Extracts said, "I do not say that I heal everybody I heard of men who have said to their have been chosen which might lay hands on; but many have been healed wives, ’I hold the priesthood and interest the reader to pursue the under my administration." (Discourses of you’ve got to do what I say.’ Such a study personally. Brigham Young, comp. John A. Widstoe [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1954], p. man should be tried for his Power in the Priesthood 162)... membership. Certainly he should not Readers no doubt will be familiar with James E. Talmage, in acknowledging be honored in his priesthood. We rule LDS terminology which sometimes the injustice experienced or felt by in love and understanding." (Spencer speaks of those who have been given some has written: W. Kimball, Buenos Aires Area Conference, "priesthood authority" and March 1975, pp. 52-53). distinguishes between the mere In the restored Church of Jesus Christ, Women and the Patriarchal Priesthood holders and those who are able to the Holy Priesthood is conferred, as an "exercise power in the priesthood." individual bestowal, upon men only, and In a fuller and richer sense than is this in accordance with Divine commonly thought by many within (For example see: "Put on Thy requirement. It is not given to woman to Strength O Zion," Melchizedek the Church women do share in the exercise the authority of the Priesthood priesthood. This order of priesthood Priesthood Personal Study Guide independently; nevertheless, in the sacred 1982, p. 104). endowments associated with the as taught by Joseph Smith is termed "patriarchal" and associated with the In the First Manchester England Area ordinances pertaining to the House of the Lord, woman shares with man the temple. Unfortunately some apostates Conference held 19 and 20 June 1976, blessings of the Priesthood. When the have misunderstood this priesthood President Spencer W. Kimball frailities and imperfections of mortality are order which is a portion of the Holy delivered some fascinating remarks on left behind, in the glorified state of the Priesthood, after the Order of the Son the literal power of the priesthood. In blessed hereafter, husband and wife will of God. Apostates have tended to the course of his remarks he quotes administer in their respective stations, Brigham Young’s feelings as to the seeing and understanding alike, and co- think of it as a separate and higher operating to the full in the government of form of priesthood authority which is material and real sense of the not correct. (See: Ehat & Cook, The priesthood. Their remarks follow: their family kingdom. Then shall woman be recompensed in rich measure for all the Words of Joseph Smith [Religious Studies Brethren, you hold the priesthood. I injustice that womanhood has endured in Center, BYU: Provo, UT], 1980, assume that all of you who are here today mortality. Then shall woman reign by discourse and footnotes for 27 August hold the priesthood, at least most of you. Divine right, a queen in the resplendent 1843.) Elder Bruce R. McConkie has How grateful you should be to be able to realm of her glorified state, even as exalted stated: hold the priesthood. What is the man shall stand, priest and king unto the priesthood? It is the power of God Most High God. Mortal eye cannot see nor We go to the temple and we get married delegated to man to act in his stead. That mind comprehend the beauty, glory, and for eternity, and when we do, we are given means he has just taken his power in large majesty of a righteous woman made everything that Abraham received as far as quantities and put in on our shoulders and perfect in the celestial kingdom of God the promises of glory and exaltation are said, "Now go forth and use it for good." (James E. Talmage, "The Eternity of Sex," concerned .... Few of us really realize the power of the Young Woman’s Journal 25 [October Joseph Smith says that in the temple of priesthood, the power it has in the home, 1914]:602-03). God there is an order of priesthood that is the power it has over the elements, the Again, Brigham Young said, "Do you see patriarchal. ’Go to the temple,’ he says, power it has everywhere we move. The ’and find out about this order.’ So I went reason it is not a greater power is because the reason and propriety of laying hands to the temple, and I took my wife with me, on each other? When we are prepared, we sometimes do not respond to the point when we are holy vessels (I repeat that, and we kneeled at the altar’. There on that where we are wortl~y of that blessing. ocasion we entered, the two of us, into an It is strange that there are many people holy vessels) before the Lord, a stream of ’order of the priesthood.’ When we did it, in the Church who, when there is power from the Almighty can pass through we had sealed upon us, on a conditional distress--a broken limb or a sickness--call the tabernacle of the administrator to the basis, every blessing that God promised for the doctor. We are grateful to have system of the patient." (Discourses of Brigham Father Abraham--the blessings of such wonderful practitioners in our Young, p. 162.) exaltation and eternal increase. The name communities who can help us to find our Women and the Priesthood of that order of priesthood., which way back to health, but Brigham Young is patriarchal in nature, because Abraham gave us something regarding this. I would In October of 1852, Elder Ezra Taft Benson, an apostle of the Church, was a natural patriarch to his posterity, is like to read a line or two from President the New and Everlasting Covenant of Brigham Young. He said, "When I lay spoke during conference abut the Marriage." ("The Eternal Family Concept," hands on the sick, I expect the healing Devil, revelation, and modern Genealogical Devotional Address, 19-23 June power and influence of God to pass priestdom. Among other things he 1967 [Provo, Utah: Brigham Young through me to the patient." Now if it is commented about the sisters healing University Press, 1968], pp. 89-91.) September-October/59.
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